LOS ANGELES, CA — Today, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services announced it has been awarded a $1 million grant from the American Red Cross to support the launch and expansion of its Disaster Care Program, a two-year initiative designed to address the long-term mental health needs of individuals and families impacted by Los Angeles wildfires.
The grant will support a comprehensive approach to disaster recovery that centers on trauma-informed care for survivors experiencing ongoing effects of wildfire-related trauma, displacement, and financial hardship. The Disaster Care Program builds on Didi Hirsch’s emergency response efforts, strengthening the organization’s capacity to deliver sustained, community-based mental health support long after the immediate disaster response ends.
“This investment allows us to move from crisis response to long-term recovery,” said Lyn Morris, CEO of Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services. “Wildfires leave lasting emotional and psychological impacts, and this grant enables us to meet survivors where they are, with accessible, culturally responsive care, while building a model that can be deployed in future disasters.”
“The American Red Cross is committed to supporting long-term recovery efforts that address the lasting impacts disasters have on individuals and families,” said Amanda Ree, Director of Wildfire Long-Term Recovery at the American Red Cross. “This partnership with Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services helps ensure wildfire survivors have access to critical mental health support as they rebuild their lives and communities.”
Over the two-year grant period, Didi Hirsch will establish a dedicated Disaster Care Program led by experienced disaster response professionals. Program activities include hiring a Program Director and Community Engagement Manager, developing rapid deployment protocols using a reservist model of clinicians and crisis counselors trained in national best practices.
In addition to building internal capacity, the program will provide up to six free, trauma-informed therapy sessions to 360 individuals and families affected by wildfires. Services will be delivered by licensed clinicians trained in disaster response and offered via telehealth or in person at Didi Hirsch outpatient clinics. Clients will also receive outcome assessments and connections to longer-term mental health services when appropriate.
The Disaster Care Program will also reach 1,000 additional individuals through outreach, training, and community engagement efforts, including participation in wildfire recovery community events, facilitation of a wellbeing educational series, partnerships with community-based organizations, and the distribution of multilingual mental health resources to ensure access for underserved communities.
This initiative reflects a collaborative, forward-looking approach to disaster recovery that prioritizes mental health as a critical component of community resilience. By investing in long-term care and preparedness, the program offers a scalable model for addressing the mental health impacts of future disasters across Los Angeles County.
About Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services:
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services is a nationally recognized leader in mental health, substance use, and suicide prevention, delivering compassionate care to hundreds of thousands of people annually. Founded in 1942, Didi Hirsch has evolved into a comprehensive organization offering trauma-informed mental health care, integrated substance use treatment, crisis residential services, and groundbreaking crisis hotlines in English and Spanish and the nation’s first Teen Line. Based in Los Angeles, Didi Hirsch combines innovative programming with a commitment to serving individuals and families in communities where discrimination and injustice limit access. By addressing systemic barriers and fostering long-term recovery, Didi Hirsch transforms lives and creates pathways to healing for individuals and families. For more information, visit www.didihirsch.org and @didi_hirsch on Instagram.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org, cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on social media.
